Frequently asked questions
Q: How much does it cost?
Q: What about accomodation and travel?
Q: Do I have to be a nurse?
Q: Do I need my organisation’s support?
Q: What are the benefits to my organisation?
Q: How much study leave will I need?
Q: Where is the course going to be held?
Q: Are the 21 days done in one block or is it spread across the year?
Q: Why does Nurse First provide a Post-Graduate Diploma?
Q: Do you have to submit any assignments whilst doing the course?
Q: Is there an age limit to application?
Q: After completion are there expectations to come back to report or be involved in future work?
Q: Is the programme open to staff working in Mental Health or Learning Disabilities?
Q: Why do I need to approach my manager?
Q: What should I say to my manager?
Q: Can I get some advice about this?
A: The cost of the programme is £6,000 and this includes all the accommodation. Your organisation will also need to allow you 21 days of study leave (in 7 three-day blocks over a year) and to fund your travel expenses to the venue.
Q: What about accomodation and travel?
A: Accomodation is included for the 21 day’s residential element but you will need to fund your own transport to the venue in Manchester.
A: No. You can be any registered healthcare professional who is working directly with patients or clients in the community.
Q: Do I need my organisation’s support?
A: Yes. Your line manager will have to approve your study leave for the 21 days and they will need to sign the application form. There is specific advice about this here.
Q: What are the benefits to my organisation?
A: There are 3 key benefits to your organisation of you attending the Nurse First programme.
Firstly, you will be addressing a major challenge to your organisation. We expect you to identify a significant problem or challenge in your area and develop an innovative solution to this.
Secondly it is likely to bring in additional funding to the organisation. As well as identifying a major challenge to your organisation and coming up with an innovative way of solving this, we expect you to raise the funding for a pilot programme and get the pilot up and running. Many of the Nurse First projects have brought in between £10,000 and £100,000 of funding for their pilots.
Thirdly, it will lead to service innovations that will raise the profile of your organisation as an innovative and forward-thinking organisation.
Q: How much study leave will I need?
A: You will need 21 dates of study leave over the year, broken down into 7 blocks of 3 days (approximately 6 weeks apart).
Q: Where is the course going to be held?
A: Each cohort is in a different location and we will provide this information for each cohort. The residential element of the June 2013 cohort will take place in Buckinghamshire and the residential element of the September 2013 cohort will take place in Manchester.
Q: Are the 21 days done in one block or is it spread across the year?
A: The 21 days are spread out in 7 blocks of 3 spread throughout the year.
Q: Why does Nurse First provide a Post-Graduate Diploma?
A: Nurse First Post-Graduate diploma in Social Innovation is the first diploma of its kind in the UK. It rewards you for actually delivering a project, rather than writing essays. The programme assessment will be made on a short personal reflection written after each module, and a final presentation of the business plan and implementation for the Challenge Project.
Q: Do you have to submit any assignments whilst doing the course?
A: The assessment is done through a reflective diary that you keep throughout the programme as well as a detailed description of the final project or service that you set up.
Q: Is there an age limit to application?
A: There isn't an age limit for the application but we want people who are still working clinically with patients and clients in the community. We want staff who are working in the community who are not in a senior managerial position but would like to be able to promote change or innovation.
Q: After completion are there expectations to come back to report or be involved in future work?
A: You will be expected to have introduced a new project or service by the end of the programme and you will need to write a report on this at the end. We also expect you to become part of an alumni of "Nurse First" graduates who will continue to work and network together as the programmes grow and increase. This network will also provide support to you for the rest of your career.
Q: Is the programme open to staff working in Mental Health or Learning Disabilities?
A: Yes and we would be delighted to receive applications from staff working in these areas.
Q: Why do I need to approach my manager?
A: If you are selected for interview, we will send you a form which will need to be filled in by your manager. It is important that your organisation supports you applying for the programme because:
- you will need study leave to attend
- you will need to work with your manager and other people in your organisation to implement your project idea
- your manager may be a tremendously valuable resource to you as your project develops
There is a specific page about this here
Q: What should I say to my manager?
A: We suggest emphasising the benefits to the whole organisation and the opportunities for bringing in additional funding. There is a specific page of advice about this here.
Q: Can I get some advice about this?
A: Feel free to email or ring us if you would like some further advice about your particular circumstances.
If you have any other questions, then feel free to post them in the box below or contact us directly. You can download the application form here.
